staircase, I have got two cannon loaded, which will blow you into
powder. Go and tell the Cardinal that I was acting at the order of
superior officers, and that what we have done and are doing is in
defence of them priests, [3] and not to hurt them." They made away; and
then came Signor Orazio Baglioni, running. I bade him stand back, else
I'd murder him; for I knew very well who he was. He drew back a little,
not without a certain show of fear, and called out: "Benvenuto, I am
your friend!" To this I answered: "Sir, come up, but come alone, and
then come as you like." The general, who was a man of mighty pride,
stood still a moment, and then said angrily: "I have a good mind not to
come up again, and to do quite the opposite of that which I intended
toward you." I replied that just as I was put there to defend my
neighbours, I was equally well able to defend myself too. He said that
he was coming alone; and when he arrived at the top of the stairs, his
features were more discomposed that I thought reasonable. So I kept my
hand upon my sword, and stood eyeing him askance. Upon this he began to
laugh, and the colour coming back into his face, he said to me with the
most pleasant manner: "Friend Benvenuto, I bear you as great love as I
have it in my heart to give; and in God's good time I will render you
proof of this. Would to God that you had killed those two rascals; for
one of them is the cause of all this trouble, and the day perchance will
come when the other will be found the cause of something even worse." He
then begged me, if I should be asked, not to say that he was with me
when I fired the gun; and for the rest bade me be of good cheer. The
commotion which the affair made was enormous, and lasted a long while.
However, I will not enlarge upon it further, only adding that I was
within an inch of revenging my father on Messer Jacopo Salviati, who had
grievously injured him, according to my father's complaints. As it was,
unwittingly I gave the fellow a great fright. Of Farnese I shall say
nothing here, because it will appear in its proper place how well it